Thursday, April 22, 2010

If He Only Had a Brain: Crime Boss Russell Means Says He Promised Not to Tell Who Ordered the Anna Mae Aquash Murder

"Even in the Rapid City courtroom where Pictou Maloney has attended the trials of two men charged in her mother's murder, she said none of her mother's fellow American Indian Movement members have come over to say hello.

Denise Pictou Maloney, one of the two adult daughters of murder victim Anna Mae Aquash, was interviewed by reporters about the trial of Richard Marshall, who is accused of providing the gun that was used in the 1975 murder of Anna Mae.

In the News from Indian Country video (4-21-10), Denise Pictou Maloney revealed that she had recently spoken with Dick Marshall's former crime boss Russell Means and that Means told her that he knew who ordered her mother's murder but that he had promised not to tell until that person was dead.

The reason I called for this press conference for my participation is to tell the world, about the leadership of the American Indian Movement at that time, was well aware of what happened to Anna Mae, and two of the leaders ordered her death. Vernon Bellecourt made the phone call to the house on Rosebud, which.....[Means gets emotional]...is my brother’s house...and Clyde Bellecourt took the call from Vernon and then issued the order for her death, for her murder...

Isn't it a little disingenuous of Russell Means to say he “promised not to tell” who ordered Anna Mae's execution if he already told in the 1999 press conference?

The former FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph Trimbach and his son John Trimbach describe the 1999 press conference in front of the Denver federal court building in their book Amerian Indian Mafia:

Means stood next to Ward Churchill, while the former professor of Indian Studies accused the FBI of conspiring to murder Anna Mae Aquash. They also accused their former ally, Vernon Bellecourt, of being a government spy. As Churchill spewed his usual hate-inspiring venom, Means nodded approvingly, and at the key moment provided the wayward teacher with another appropriately misleading proclamation. "They know who the murderers are," Means whispered in his friend's ear. Churchill immediately barked the words out loud for the cameras, hoping the crowd of onlookers would be fooled by the word "they," as if to suggest, one more time, that the FBI had engaged in a murder cover up.

Denise Pictou Maloney, a very articulate, dignified woman, sums up what we have learned from Dick Marshall's trial and says that some people need to step up and take responsibility for her mother's murder. I think that Denise must take after her mother Anna Mae. Certainly her moving, dignified, and bitter-sweet perspective is a beautiful tribute to her mother's memory.

Today, Heidi Bell Gease of the Rapid City Journal (4-22-10) also captured Denise Pictou Maloney's perspective on the trial in a very poignant and beautifully-written article. This account is based on an interview with Bell Gease:

Even in the Rapid City courtroom where Pictou Maloney has attended the trials of two men charged in her mother's murder, she said none of her mother's fellow American Indian Movement members have come over to say hello."My mother was abandoned in her life by those people," Pictou Maloney said, so why would that change in death?

It's ironic that the only person Pictou Maloney said has ever contacted Aquash's family is also the only person convicted of her murder."(Arlo Looking Cloud) was the only one in 28 years that ever bothered to contact Annie Mae Aquash's family," Pictou Maloney said, noting that she has spoken to his relatives in court.As for AIM leaders and members, "their silence speaks volumes to our family and our (Mi'kmaq) Territory."Pictou Maloney said her mother believed strongly in AIM and its ideals at the movement's inception -- so strongly that she left two young daughters she loved with family and traveled from her native Nova Scotia, Canada, to South Dakota to take part in the 1973 Wounded Knee occupation."It was always about the truth for her," she said. "She stood up for them. She protested."Pictou Maloney said it is painful to find that some in AIM have been more concerned about protecting the organization than about finding justice for Aquash."What became very apparent to me was the fear factor" involved, she said. "We are so grateful to those that have had the courage to stand up and come forward and speak the truth."Regardless of the verdict in this week's trial of Vine Richard "Dickie" Marshall, Pictou Maloney said her family feels that the trial has been a step toward justice for her mother. For one thing, she said it has reaffirmed evidence that AIM members -- not federal authorities -- were the ones that killed her mother. "That negates all the conspiracy theorists," she said.

Meanwhile, Pictou Maloney said she clings fiercely to memories of the mother she lost when she was just 11 years old. Aquash was a good mother who instilled her daughters with strong morals and values, Pictou Maloney said.She vividly remembers her mother telling her, "Don't ever lie. She said to always tell the truth."Pictou Maloney said she also remembers her mother's last visit home to Canada. At that time, Pictou Maloney said, Aquash had already been interrogated by AIM members who suspected her of being a government informant. Federal officials said she was not an informant."I think she knew things weren't going to go well," Pictou Maloney said. "She asked me to look after my younger sister."More than 35 years have passed since then. But Pictou Maloney said she still holds out hope that the truth about her mother -- who in life put so much emphasis on truth -- will eventually catch up with those responsible for Aquash's death."I guess they underestimated my mother's abilities ... and her spirit," she said."Because it will come full circle, as so it should."Contact Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com

4 Comments:

Anonymous said...

Russell Means is a left wing socialist. He's fighting for his own glory and fame and not that of his people. He knows nothing of what it means to be a true sovereign. He is in “contract” with the U.S. government as he has a social security number and pays money to the IRS just like all the rest of the “debtor slaves on the plantation.” Yes he reminds me of an eagle with one wing, a leftist propagandist wing. Speak the truth to him and he'll hang up on you. If anyone knew anything about cancer it is known that a billion cancer cells can go undetected by the most sophisticated equipment used to detect cancer. Cancer can erupt and spread through the whole body within days or it can hang on and gradually eat away at the life force of it's victim’s cells over several years. One out of every 4 Americans will get cancer in their lifetimes and 1 out of 3 will die from it. No one “infected” him with cancer, in fact he gave it to himself with all the anger and resentment (the metaphysical cause of cancer) he has towards the government that presently feeds his people. Think about it, where would “his people’ get their money to buy food if it weren’t for the monthly handouts (welfare checks) they get from the U.S. government now. I used to have a lot of respect for the Native American people, but their laziness and total loss of dignity makes me realize how pathetically spiritually weak a people they truly are. I mean their own worst enemies are not the “white man“ but their very own people. Russell can’t stop blaming others for their woes when they should show some initiative and grow and raise their own food. But they can’t because they simply lack the grace of humility to do so. More truth I'm sure most like Russell Means won't be able to handle. By the way Russell Means was a heavy drug user back in his extremely radical days. He’s on a heroin and marijuana watch list. Do your research. Soon this Hollywood actor will soon be indicted for aiding and abetting in the murders of many of “his people” as there is no statute of limitations on unsolved murders which the “American Indian Mafia (not Movement) were ordered by him and other AIM leaders. Right he’s going to come back as lightening and strike the White House. For one such a statement is stupid and way off target. If Russell Means has a clue he’d target the Federal Reserve. Not the puppet show house for the Illuminati and it’s banking elite who control the currency and therefore control the governments of the world.

My dad grew up in Porcupine and Upper Cut Meat. He despised the fact that no one around him would do anything but sit around collecting their checks and blowing it on the booze, a little gas for their busted up cars, and just enough for some bologna and bread for the kids. True story. You are right in the fact that they choose their life now. There is no ambition to get out of the hell hole white man put their ancestors in. Not all stay on the rez. My dad got off of it and made a good life for himself and us. He took initiative and learned how to be self sufficient. Did not live on BIA and didn't use IHS. He wanted something different. Didn't want to live on the rez and become like his dad, drinking and passing out every day. My dad to me, is the real warrior. Not all ndns settle for a life on the reserve throwing their lives away, living off checks. Many do get off of it or work to help better the lives of those there. But I do agree that it's time to stop blaming the white man and start getting up off your behind and make your own life better. If you spend your life blaming someone else, then you are not a warrior. A warrior to me is like my dad who did not resort to living like a bum and blaming someone else for it.

You two foolish idiots are just full of it. You both spew hate filled comments. I never blamed the white man for anything I know my truth. The second person does not know what makes a warrior as if he/she knows what makes a warrior. a warrior is a man who can walk in humility and never has to boast.

cocoplainThe case was based on the date December 12, 1975, when Ms Aquash staged her own disappearance, (in front of many witnesses) and went into hiding at a safehouse. She did this because she was "wanted" by the FBI (for failing to appear in court) She failed to appear for her court date because she was in fear for her life. An FBI agent had threatened her with death and had been actively hunting her down for the purpose of having her sign a false affidavit implicating Leonard Peltier in the deaths of the two FBI agents during the incident at Jumpingbull's. Ms Aquash died on February 14-18, 1976 according to the indisputable scientific facts in her autopsy. The autopsy's date-of-death was not used during the trials of Arlo Looking Cloud or John Graham. The trials were based on a carefully contrived conspiracy theory created by Ms Aquash's daughter and based on a scientifically impossible date of death. Free John Graham & Arlo Looking Cloud!